Popcorn Recipes

I know where popcorn gets it's bad rep. Definitely microwaves and movie theaters have made people think that popcorn is bad for you. Quite contrary actually! It's all the butter and other stuff that makes those popcorns less nutritious. Some facts about popcorn: 

1 c popped popcorn has:
20 calories
0 calories from fat
0 fat, cholesterol, or sodium
5g of carbs, 0g from sugar, 1g from fiber, the rest from starch (complex energy...a good thing!)
and a little bit of protein

 5 c popped has
110 calories
10 calories from fat
0 cholesterol and sodium
26g of carbs, <1g 7g="" fiber="" font="" from="" of="" sugar="">
 4g of protein

The reason why the nutrition facts aren't simply multiplied by 5 is that there isn't EXACTLY 1g of fiber or 0 calories from fat. There's a little more but because of labeling laws they can say "0" when there's actually only about 2 calories per cup. 

In any case, the more popcorn you eat, the more fiber you get and lets be honest, popcorn is more fun than celery! *These recipes are 9th grader approved!!* (I got these from the teacher I did my student teacher under, Megan Cranmer)

Power Munch Popcorn

4 c. popped popcorn

½ c. tiny pretzels

1 c. unsweetened cereal

½ c. croutons

¼ c. dry roasted peanuts

1 Tbsp. melted butter

1 tsp. worchestersire

¼ tsp. garlic powder

¼ tsp. chili powder

¼ tsp. onion powder

Preheat oven to 300*F. 

Mix popcorn, cereal, croutons, peanuts; toss well.

In a small bowl mix butter, worcestershire sauce, and powdered flavorings.

Pour over popcorn mix.  Toss and spread evenly on a cookie sheet.

Bake 15 min, stirring once halfway through.

Peanut Butter Popcorn

 

2 qt (8 c) popped popcorn

½ c. sugar

½ c. light corn syrup

½ c. peanut butter

½ tsp. vanilla extract

•In a large bowl, put in popcorn.

•Put peanut butter and vanilla in a separate bowl.

•Put sugar and corn syrup in a saucepan.

•Bring sugar and corn syrup to rolling boil, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon.

•Remove from heat.

•Stir in peanut butter and vanilla extract.

•Pour over popcorn and stir quickly to coat.

Popcorn Haystacks

1 qt. (4 c.) popped popcorn

1 c. peanuts

1 c. Chow Mein noodles

1 c. mini marshmallows

1 c. chocolate chips

Toss popcorn, peanuts, and noodles together in large bowl; Set aside.

Place chocolate chips in microwavable bowl.

Microwave for 3 minutes (stirring after every min!).

Pour over popcorn mixture. Toss until well mixed.

Place spoonful of the tossed mixture onto wax paper. Cool until firm.

Snickerdoodle Chex® Mix  

¼ c. sugar

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

2 c. Chex® cereal

2 c. Chocolate Chex® cereal

4 c. popped popcorn

¼ c. margarine

1.In small bowl, mix sugar and cinnamon; set aside.

2.In large microwavable bowl, mix cereals and popcorn. 

3.In 1-cup microwavable measuring cup, microwave butter uncovered on High about 40 sec. or until melted. 

4.Pour over cereal mixture, stirring until evenly coated. 

5.Microwave uncovered on High 2 min., stirring after 1 min. 

6.Sprinkle half of the sugar mixture evenly over cereal mixture; stir. 

7.Sprinkle with remaining sugar mixture; stir. 

8.Microwave 1 min. longer. 

9.Spread on waxed paper or paper towels to cool.